Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY344539 Unique Reference Number 25 April 2007 Inspection date Christine Cutts Inspector

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Childcare Type of inspection Childminding Type of care

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This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

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ABOUT THIS INSPECTION

The purpose of this inspection is to assure government, parents and the public of the quality of childcare and, if applicable, of nursery education. The inspection was carried out under Part XA Children Act 1989 as introduced by the Care Standards Act 2000 and, where nursery education is provided, under Schedule 26 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. This report details the main strengths and any areas for improvement identified during the inspection. The judgements included in the report are made in relation to the outcomes for children set out in the Children Act 2004; the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding; and, where nursery education is provided, the Curriculum guidance for the foundation stage. The report includes information on any complaints about the childcare provision which Ofsted has received since the last inspection or registration or 1 April 2004 whichever is the later.

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The key inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough

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The key inspection judgements and what they mean

For more information about early years inspections, please see the booklet Are you ready for your inspection? which is available from Ofsted's website: www.ofsted.gov.uk.

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

The quality and standards of the care are good. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder registered in 2006. She lives with her husband and three children, who are aged four, nine and 12 years, in the Caversham area of Reading, Berkshire. The childminder uses the whole of the ground floor of the house for childminding. There is an enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder may care for a maximum of five children at any one time. Currently minding four children under five all on part time basis. The childminder supports children for whom English is an additional language. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. She makes use of local facilities such as parks, the library and toddler groups. The family has a cat.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. The children have good opportunities to develop their physical well being, with lots of space for toddlers to move around freely. They regularly enjoy the fresh air as the childminder walks to local schools and takes the children to the local parks to enjoy large apparatus for sliding

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Helping children to be healthy

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 and climbing. The children have appropriate opportunities to sleep and rest during the daily routines.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's health is protected as the childminder has good systems in place to record accidents and medication as well as a sick children’s policy which is shared with parents. The childminder holds a current first aid certificate and fully stocked first aid kits to ensure children are treated appropriately in case of accidents.

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Helping children to be healthy

The children are encouraged to develop good hygiene routines in a fun way, by choosing which liquid soap and character towel they want to use when washing their hands.

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Helping children to be healthy

The children benefit from a healthy diet as the childminder supplies healthy food options, building on the children's own likes and dislikes and home favourites. The children are encouraged to develop good eating habits through discussions at meal times and with the use of books like 'Hannah's Surprise'.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children play safely in a child friendly environment where the childminder has identified and minimized the risk of accidental injury because of good safety and security precautions. The childminder has evacuation procedures, fire alarms and fire blanket to help ensure that in an emergency children are protected from harm.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The premises are secure and children are closely supervised when playing out-side in the front or back gardens.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children enjoy a good and varied range of safe and age-appropriate toys and resources, which are of good quality and are well maintained. These are well organised to enable them to make choices in their play and are easily accessible. Children freely select from toys boxes or books from open shelves. Furniture and equipment is appropriate to all children, for example, high chairs for the youngest children and full size, for older ones. Sleeping arrangements allow children to rest quietly and comfortably according to their own needs either in a travel cot upstairs or relaxing on a comfortable sofa.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children develop a good understanding of road safety as the childminder talks to the children on their daily walks to nursery or school.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has completed child protection training and demonstrates through discussion, a sound knowledge of the signs and symptoms of abuse and the process to follow should she have any concerns. This helps to ensure that children's welfare is maintained at all times.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children enjoy a varied range of play and learning opportunities through planned and spontaneous activities; children learn about the natural environment through local walks and talking about the animals they see. This is extended with children making bird feeders for the garden. The childminder plans themed activities such as making Easter cards, where children practise their early writing skills and art and craft design. They are confident in the setting and

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 in their relationship with the childminder, who supports the children's emotional well being offering a calm and reassuring environment where their work is displayed and valued.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are happily occupied, playing with a farm set, small play kitchen, play house and looking at books. The childminder joins in their play talking to the children and naming and making animal noises to encourage the children to enjoy the books and develop their communication skills.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder uses the Birth to three matters framework for guidance on suitable activities for younger children, older children are catered for with opportunities to play games, read books and have use of a computer.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are valued as individuals; their backgrounds and beliefs are respected and they are encouraged to respect each others, sharing their home languages and traditions and being kind to each other. Many of the children in the house now know how to count in Spanish and English; sharing home languages and beliefs such as how they celebrate 'Easter'. Children are learning to value others and differences through play using a range of resources that reflect the diversity in our society.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children with English as a second or additional language are well supported with the childminder working closely with parents to ensure that both languages are valued and that the children develop confidence in their communication skills. The childminder is not currently caring for any children with special needs but hopes to meet the individual needs of any child she cares for.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's behaviour is very good, they learn to develop a sense of right and wrong in a calm and supportive environment where the childminder encourages good behaviour using praise and encouragement and by modelling good behaviour for the younger children such as how the books should be treated.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children benefit from the close working relationship the childminder has with the parents, which helps her provide good quality care for the children. Parents are kept fully informed of their children's activities during the day and the childminder keeps a scrape book of children's work and photo's of the activities they do.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The children feel welcome, confident and secure because the childminder has undertaken all relevant training and effectively organises her childminding commitments, space and resources to ensure that each child's individual needs are met. The childminder ensures ratios are met at all times and understands the importance of police checks to protect children from harm. The childminder protects children from unvetted adults by closely supervising them, when they play in the garden or visiting out side the premises. All visitors to the setting sign in the visitor’s book.

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Organisation

The childminder keeps all legally required documentation safely and with proper regard to confidentiality. The childminder provides parents with a range of policy statements and

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Organisation

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 information to keep them fully informed of the childminding provision and the care of their children, although there is not a complaints log in place the childminder has received no complaints to record.

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Organisation

The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since the last inspection there have been no complaints made to Ofsted that required the provider or Ofsted to take any action in order to meet the National Standards. The provider is required to keep a record of complaints made by parents, which they can see on request. The complaints record may contain complaints other than those made to Ofsted.

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

The quality and standards of the care are good. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

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The quality and standards of the care

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • develop a complaints log.

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The quality and standards of the care

set out in the leaflet Complaints about Ofsted Early Years: concerns or complaints about Ofsted's role in regulating and inspecting childcare and early education (HMI ref no 2599) which is available from Ofsted's website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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The quality and standards of the care

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

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